Tasmanian police have re-opened a large-scale ground search for Belgian tourist Celine Cremer after a volunteer located her mobile phone near Philosopher Falls, close to where she was last seen in June 2023. Officers will now join private investigators and local volunteers combing steep rainforest terrain that had previously been “extensively searched”, according to Inspector Andrew Hanson.
Cremer’s disappearance drew international attention and raised questions about back-country safety for overseas visitors. Despite two years without substantive leads, her family in Liège funded a renewed search this weekend with advanced drone imaging and canine units specialising in decomposed-scent tracking. The discovery of the Samsung handset—intact but weather-damaged—has given authorities fresh GPS metadata to narrow the search grid.
![Phone Discovery Renews Search for Belgian Backpacker Missing in Tasmania]()
Australia attracts more than 20,000 Belgian tourists annually, many of whom trek in remote national parks. Belgian consular officials in Sydney say they are updating travel-safety advisories to emphasise satellite beacons and route-registration apps for solo hikers.
While the case does not involve visa complications, it underscores the duty-of-care obligations that Belgian employers and study-abroad organisers owe to staff and students undertaking independent travel in Australasia. Risk-management firms recommend mandatory wilderness-first-aid briefings and real-time location-sharing protocols for corporate travellers venturing beyond metropolitan centres.
Police will evaluate search results over the coming week before deciding whether to continue. Cremer’s family has thanked donors and volunteers, reiterating hope for closure.
Cremer’s disappearance drew international attention and raised questions about back-country safety for overseas visitors. Despite two years without substantive leads, her family in Liège funded a renewed search this weekend with advanced drone imaging and canine units specialising in decomposed-scent tracking. The discovery of the Samsung handset—intact but weather-damaged—has given authorities fresh GPS metadata to narrow the search grid.
Australia attracts more than 20,000 Belgian tourists annually, many of whom trek in remote national parks. Belgian consular officials in Sydney say they are updating travel-safety advisories to emphasise satellite beacons and route-registration apps for solo hikers.
While the case does not involve visa complications, it underscores the duty-of-care obligations that Belgian employers and study-abroad organisers owe to staff and students undertaking independent travel in Australasia. Risk-management firms recommend mandatory wilderness-first-aid briefings and real-time location-sharing protocols for corporate travellers venturing beyond metropolitan centres.
Police will evaluate search results over the coming week before deciding whether to continue. Cremer’s family has thanked donors and volunteers, reiterating hope for closure.
Source: The Guardian
